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Electrical Issue - Help Needed
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 867
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Electrical Issue - Help Needed
I need some help. I should be up front and let you know it's on my daughters 99 Mustang. I've received a lot of help for my C5 and returned the assistance whenever possible. I'm hoping you'll help me figure her problem out. I've found the Mustang forums are generally composed of kids with little mechanical knowledge. Her's what she's got going on:
1. The right turn signals work, however, most of the time the dash/radio lights blink on and off in cadence with the blinker.
2. Left front turn signal will sometimes flash very slowly or not at all. Left rear works.
3. When she uses her brake the dash lights will sometimes all go out when the brake pedal is pushed.
4. Hazard lights (i.e., four way flashers) don't work at all.
4. Her cruise control stopped working around this same time. Not sure if it's a coincidence or related.
I would really appreciate some help, other than to sell it and buy her a vette......
Rick
1. The right turn signals work, however, most of the time the dash/radio lights blink on and off in cadence with the blinker.
2. Left front turn signal will sometimes flash very slowly or not at all. Left rear works.
3. When she uses her brake the dash lights will sometimes all go out when the brake pedal is pushed.
4. Hazard lights (i.e., four way flashers) don't work at all.
4. Her cruise control stopped working around this same time. Not sure if it's a coincidence or related.
I would really appreciate some help, other than to sell it and buy her a vette......
Rick
Last edited by rikhek; Feb 13, 2007 at 03:27 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Rick
My C5 Z06 will brobably NOT start tomorrow morning
but,,,, Your mustang problem sounds like a typical ground related issue. Anytime a ground path for something is corrupted, it will use other ground paths to work properly.
I would start by examining the car and noteing any recient repairs or MODS (ie stereo installs, collision repairs, etc...) to see if a ground wire was removed, relocated or damaged. What year car is it?
If you dont find anything there, go directly to the non-functioning scoket and inspect it. Look for corossion, loose/damaged pins or damaged wires. I would also take voltage readings at the connector.
I'll stroke my Z tomorrow morning so she doesnt feel neglected and let me know how you make out.
I have to drive the Z to work tomorrow morning because were due to receive 4"-8" of SNOW tommorrow night!
Got to get that last drive in for a few weeks!
Let us know how you make out. Maybe one day you will be be able to get your daughter converted over to a real car! 
Good luck and safe driving.
BC
My C5 Z06 will brobably NOT start tomorrow morning
but,,,, Your mustang problem sounds like a typical ground related issue. Anytime a ground path for something is corrupted, it will use other ground paths to work properly.I would start by examining the car and noteing any recient repairs or MODS (ie stereo installs, collision repairs, etc...) to see if a ground wire was removed, relocated or damaged. What year car is it?
If you dont find anything there, go directly to the non-functioning scoket and inspect it. Look for corossion, loose/damaged pins or damaged wires. I would also take voltage readings at the connector.
I'll stroke my Z tomorrow morning so she doesnt feel neglected and let me know how you make out.
I have to drive the Z to work tomorrow morning because were due to receive 4"-8" of SNOW tommorrow night!
Got to get that last drive in for a few weeks! Let us know how you make out. Maybe one day you will be be able to get your daughter converted over to a real car!
Good luck and safe driving.
BC
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Had a 58 Alfa Giulietta Spyder--damn why did I sell that?--with similar problems. The wires inside the light housing had been reversed for the front blinkers and drive lights. Simple fix, all was well. Not sure about the CC. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 867
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Hi Bill,
Back to help me again. Last issue you helped me resolve was my EBTCM. I'll try your grounding suggestions, however, I've never found an easy fix like a ground to be a problem over many years. Just my luck I suppose.
FWIW, no work/mods have been performed in over a year.
The car is a 1999 V6 Mustang and at 19 she's not "deserving" of a vette yet. I had to wait until I was 45 years old.
Anybody else have any thoughts?
Rick
Back to help me again. Last issue you helped me resolve was my EBTCM. I'll try your grounding suggestions, however, I've never found an easy fix like a ground to be a problem over many years. Just my luck I suppose.
FWIW, no work/mods have been performed in over a year.
The car is a 1999 V6 Mustang and at 19 she's not "deserving" of a vette yet. I had to wait until I was 45 years old.
Anybody else have any thoughts?
Rick
Last edited by rikhek; Feb 13, 2007 at 01:51 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Rick
f that is the case, look for a shorted or defective blinker/lighting module and or a bad turn signal switch. C5's commonly have issues with the emergency flasher module. That could also be a common dominator!
f that is the case, look for a shorted or defective blinker/lighting module and or a bad turn signal switch. C5's commonly have issues with the emergency flasher module. That could also be a common dominator!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 867
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Bill,
I'll start with all your suggestions Wednesday night as I'm out of town.
BTW, my C5 had the bad flasher syndrome. Fixed it with a new one using the "sharp" blow with a hammer procedure for removing the old one...
Rick
I'll start with all your suggestions Wednesday night as I'm out of town.
BTW, my C5 had the bad flasher syndrome. Fixed it with a new one using the "sharp" blow with a hammer procedure for removing the old one...
Rick
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 654
Likes: 1
From: Prescott Valley Arizona
Hi Bill,
Back to help me again. Last issue you helped me resolve was my EBTCM. I'll try your grounding suggestions, however, I've never found an easy fix like a ground to be a problem over many years. Just my luck I suppose.
FWIW, no work/mods have been performed in over a year.
The car is a 1999 V6 Mustang and at 19 she's not "deserving" of a vette yet. I had to wait until I was 45 years old.
Anybody else have any thoughts?
Rick
Back to help me again. Last issue you helped me resolve was my EBTCM. I'll try your grounding suggestions, however, I've never found an easy fix like a ground to be a problem over many years. Just my luck I suppose.
FWIW, no work/mods have been performed in over a year.
The car is a 1999 V6 Mustang and at 19 she's not "deserving" of a vette yet. I had to wait until I was 45 years old.
Anybody else have any thoughts?
Rick
Good Luck
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 867
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
My wife had a 99 that had similar problems-issue was in the steering column. Wires were shorted out to the side rubbing and a connector was bad. Ford Quality.... Drop the bottom part of the column cover and start visually from there-normally up toward the top end.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,028
From: eastern NC
Ford uses the "clock spring" harness in their steering column as do other manufacturers. This thing can cause all of the problems you've identified including issues with the SRS. Ford has had a few problems with this thing and it is a pain to change out, but a whole lot cheaper than having a dealer do it. Try Googling it and you should come up with additional information.
I would also suggest pulling the codes if possible and see what you get. Some of the issues you mention are sure to throw a code.
Good luck and as others have said, let us know what you find.
Here's a link to an article on diagnosing the Ford cruise control and how the clock spring comes into play...
http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/nov2002/techtips.cfm
GUSTO
I would also suggest pulling the codes if possible and see what you get. Some of the issues you mention are sure to throw a code.
Good luck and as others have said, let us know what you find.
Here's a link to an article on diagnosing the Ford cruise control and how the clock spring comes into play...
http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/nov2002/techtips.cfm
GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; Feb 14, 2007 at 08:15 AM.